Help From An Angel

May I share with you an account by my friend and BYU colleague, the late Clyn D. Barrus.
I do so with the permission of his wife, Marilyn, and their family.

Referring to his childhood on a large Idaho farm, Brother Barrus spoke of his nightly assignment to round up the cows at milking time.
Because the cows pastured in a field bordered by the occasionally treacherous Teton River, the strict rule in the Barrus household was that during the spring flood season the children were never to go after any cows who ventured across the river.
They were always to return home and seek mature help.

One Saturday just after his seventh birthday, Brother Barrus's parents promised the family a night at the movies if the chores were done on time.
But when young Clyn arrived at the pasture, the cows he sought had crossed the river, even though it was running at high flood stage.
Knowing his rare night at the movies was in jeopardy, he decided to go after the cows himself, even though he had been warned many times never to do so.

As the seven-year-old urged his old horse, Banner, down in the cold, swift stream, the horse's head barely cleared the water.
And adult sitting on the horse would have been safe, but at Brother Barrus's tender age, the current completely covered him except when the horse lunged forward several times, bringing Clyn's head above water just enough to gasp for air.

Here I turn to Brother Barrus's own words.

"When Banner finally climbed the other bank, I realized that my life had been in grave danger and that I had done a terrible thing--I had knowingly disobeyed my father.
I felt that I could redeem myself only by bringing the cows home safely.
Maybe then my father would forgive me.
But it was already dusk, and I didn't know for sure where I was.
Despair overwhelmed me.
I was wet and cold, lost and afraid.

"I climbed down from old Banner, fell to the ground by his feet, and began to cry.
Between thick sobs, I tried to offer a prayer, repeating over and over to my Father in Heaven, 'I'm sorry.
Forgive me!
I'm sorry.
Forgive me!'

"I prayed for a long time.
When I finally looked up, I saw through my tears a figure dressed in white walking toward me.
In the dark, I felt certain it must be an angel sent in answer to my prayers.
I did not move or make a sound as the figure approached, so overwhelmed was I by what I saw.
Would the Lord really send an angel to me, who had been so disobedient?

"Then a familiar voice said, 'Son, I've been looking for you.'
In the darkness I recognized the voice of my father and ran to his outstretched arms.
He held me tightly, then said gently, 'I was worried.
I'm glad I found you.'

"I tried to tell him how sorry I was, but only disjointed words came out of my trembling lips--'Thank you ... darkness ... afraid ... river ... alone.'
Later that night I learned that when I had not returned from the pasture, my father had come looking for me.
When neither I nor the cows were to be found, he knew I had crossed the river and was in danger.
Because it was dark and time was of the essence, he removed his clothes down to his long white thermal underwear, tied his shoes around his neck, and swam a treacherous river to rescue a wayward son."

-Jeffrey R. Holland -The Ministry of Angels -October 2008 General Conference

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Obsessive Spike

Agh!!
Why does the Flash have to do this to me?!?!
Go on hiatus for a month.
Then give me two weeks of Flash goodness.
And then go back on hiatus for two weeks?!
Why?
Why!
Why!!

lol.
Yah, my obsessiveness over the The Flash TV show has once again been activated.
But how can it not be when I was able to get the Flash not once, but twice this week!

Because The Flash crossed over with SuperGirl.
And can I say? Delightful.
Amazing.
Pure sunshine?
Honestly I watched that crossover episode 3 times in a row because I loved how happy it was and loved seeing Supergirl and the Flash interacting with each other.

And then!
on the Flash episode of the week,
I got to see the return of my favorite Villain!!!
YES!!!
Double score of happiness!! ^^
I'll probably be geeking out about this for the next two weeks. lol

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Roommateversary

I can't believe it's been a year.
A year since my Amazing Roommate walked in the door and introduced herself as my new roommate.

I'd just had two of my three other roommates move out.
All three of them were....well....I wished for better roommates.
Someone I could connect with.
Someone I could get along with.

And in my Amazing Roommate.
I found a new best friend.
Where we get each other.
We have similar needs.
We understand what works and doesn't work between us.

It's been amazing.
And doubly amazing that I actually am able to be roommates with her for a full year.
It's crazy.
Totally crazy.
I never saw it happening. That we'd be such good friends.
But I'm thankful that it did happen.

Because I honestly don't know what my emotional state would be like right now if she wasn't apart of my life. A listening ear to hear me complain, to offer advice. It's great!
Honestly, I wish we could be roommates forever.....but she's getting married....sooo that's out the window. lol

But still.
A full year!!
We celebrated this by going out to dinner, just us two.
:)
Ah.....how time flies when you're actually having fun. :)


Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2009 General Conference -Priesthood Session

Boyd K. Packer -Counsel to Young Men

• President Clark described youth as "hungry for things of the Spirit [and] eager to learn the gospel." He said: "They want it straight, undiluted. They want to know ... about our beliefs; they want to gain testimonies of their truth. They are not now doubters but inquirers, seekers after truth."
• "You do not have to sneak up behind this spiritually experienced youth and whisper religion in [their] ears; you can come right out, face to face, and talk with [them]. ... You can bring these truths to [them] openly. ... There is no need for gradual approaches."
• The priesthood is something you cannot see nor hear nor touch, but it is a real authority and a real power.
• He said that I had been given a body of such physical proportion and fitness to enable my spirit to function through it unhampered by physical impediment. That encouraged me.
• Always take care of your body. Take nothing into your body that will harm it.
• You may see others who seem to have been given a more perfect body than yours. Do not fall into the trap of feeling poorly about your height or weight or your features or your skin color or race.
• You are a son of God. You lived in a premortal existence as an individual spirit child of heavenly parents. At the time of your birth, you received a mortal body of flesh and blood and bone in which to experience earth life.  You will be tested as you prepare yourself to return to our Heavenly Father.
• "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
• Your gender was determined in the premortal existence. You were born male. You must treasure and protect the masculine part of your nature. You must have respectful, protective regard for all women and girls.
• Do not run with friends that worry your parents.
• You young men should not complain about schooling. Do not immerse yourself so much in the technical that you fail to learn things that are practical. Everything you can learn that is practical--in the house, in the kitchen cooking, the yard--will be of benefit to you. Never complain about schooling. Study well, and attend always.
• "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection."
• We are to learn about "things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven."
• Learn to work and to support.
• Fear is the opposite of faith. Do not be afraid!

Richard C. Edgley -This Is Your Phone Call

• Now is the time to rally around, lift up, and help the families in our quorums who may be in distress.
• Now, let me say a few words to those of you who are currently unemployed. The responsibility for finding employment or improving your employment rests with you. Continued guidance comes from the Lord through regular fasting and prayer. Your quorum leaders, bishops, specialists, and employment resource center staff will help in your efforts. We fear, however, that often priesthood leaders are unaware of your situation. Speak up! Let them know you are looking for work. And bishops and priesthood leaders, rise up and let the brotherhood of the priesthood engage themselves in the wonderful opportunity to truly be a quorum, a brotherhood, a brother's keeper.

Claudio R. M. Costa -Priesthood Responsibilities

• First, we have a responsibility to our families. Second, we have a responsibility to our employers. Third, we have a responsibility to the Lord's work. Fourth, we have a responsibility to ourselves."
• "It is imperative that you not neglect your families. Nothing you have is more precious."
• Regarding our responsibility to our employers, President Hinckley said: "You have an obligation. Be honest with your employer. Do not do Church work on his time."
• He also reminded us that our employment enables us to take care of our family as wee as allowing us to be effective servants in the Church.
• "'... Always remember that people are looking to you for leadership and you are influencing the lives of individuals either for good or for bad, which influence will be felt for generations to come.'"
• Our example will always speak loudly.
• "Most service given by priesthood holders is accomplished quietly, without fanfare. A friendly smile, a warm handclasp, a sincere testimony of truth can literally lift lives, change human nature, and save precious souls."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf -We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down

• The tendency to focus on the insignificant at the expense of the profound happens to everyone. We are all at risk. The driver who focuses on the road has a far greater chance of arriving at his destination accident free than the driver who focuses on sending text messages on his phone.
• Our weakness is in failing to align our actions with our conscience.
• Pause for a moment and check where your own heart and thoughts are. Are you focused on the things that matter most? How you spend your quiet time may provide a valuable clue. Where do your thoughts go when the pressure of deadlines to gone? Are your thoughts and heart focused on those short-lived fleeting things that matter only in the moment or on things that matter most?
• Sometimes the things that distract us are not bad in and of themselves; often they even make us feel good.
• It is possible to take even good things to excess.
• Even some programs of the Church can become a distraction if we take them to extremes and allow them to dominate our time and our attention at the expense of things that matter most. We need balance in life.
• We cannot and we must not allow ourselves to get distracted from our sacred duty. We cannot and we must not lose focus on the things that matter most.
• "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down."
• Think of the power we would have as individuals and as a body of the priesthood if, in response to every temptation to lose focus or lower our standards--the standards of God, we responded, "I am doing a great work and cannot come down."

Henry B. Eyring -"Man Down!"

• You will need bravery and you will need boldness because your are enlisted in the Lord's army in the last dispensation. This is not a time of peace. That has been so since Satan arrayed his forces against our Heavenly Father's plan in the premortal existence.
• Such a feeling of responsibility for others is at the heart of faithful priesthood service. Our comrades are being wounded in the spiritual conflict around us. So are the people we are called to serve and protect from harm. Spiritual wounds are not easily visible, except with inspired eyes. But bishops, branch presidents, and mission presidents sitting before fellow disciples of the Savior can see the wounded and the wounds.
• The wounds of sin are often not felt at first by the one being hurt. Satan seems sometimes to inject something to deaden the spiritual pain while inflicting the wound. Unless something happens soon to begin repentance, the wound can worsen and widen.
• Consequently, as a priesthood holder responsible for the spiritual survival of some of Heavenly Father's children, you will then move to help without waiting for a cry, "Man down!" Even a best friend or other leaders or parents may not see what you have seen.
• You may have been the only one to sense by inspiration the warning cry. The others may feel, as you will be tempted to think, "Maybe the trouble I thought I saw is just my imagination. What right do I have to judge another? It's not my responsibility. I'll leave it alone until he asks for help."
• Only an authorized judge in Israel is give the power and the responsibility to verify that there is a serious wound, to explore it, and then, under inspiration from God, to prescribe the necessary treatment for healing to begin. Yet you are under covenant to go to a spiritually wounded child of God. You are responsible to be brave enough and bold enough not to turn away.
• "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
• "For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."
• "None but fools will frifle with the souls of men."

Thomas S. Monson -Be Your Best Self

• "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you."
• To those within the sound of my voice who are struggling with challenges and difficulties large and small, prayer is the provider of spiritual strength; it is the passport to peace.

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Invite

He probably had no idea.
No idea whatsoever.
Why he'd been invited over to my sister's place tonight.

But I'm jumping a head of myself.
:)
So. It's Easter today!! Woot!!
I admit, I didn't really do anything Eastery. Didn't go home or anything like that.
But.
I did go over to my Sister's.
So that we could make Dinner. (Mac and Cheese w/ Corn.) And watch a movie. (Rise of the Guardians. Totally appropriate.)
And just spend time together. :)

But, in the middle of dinner.
We got onto the topic of cookies.
Which wasn't surprising as 1) my sister is obsessed with cookies. and 2) I'd brought cookies over for dessert.

And apparently, earlier today, she'd spoken with a guy in her ward about making cookies.
And she thought that it would be fun for him to come meet me. As she told me he was a fun guy, and very likeable.

So.
She sent him a text saying that she had cookies.
lol. He was over there lickety split.

But the real reason why she had him come over tonight?
So I could meet him. And see how we got along. lol.

I wonder if he's figured out that was the real reason for the random invite....lol.

I have to say, he does seem like a fun guy. Happy. Very energetic.
Perhaps a bit too energetic.
After he left I was like exhausted.
Because he had so much energy. lol.
Probably too much energy for me. I mean, I like happy energetic people. But wow. That was a workout to keep up with him. lol.
Still, wasn't a bad experience. Probably won't ever see him again....
but it was a fun random thing to do. :)

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

186th Annual General Conference -General Women's Session

Sister Cheryl A. Esplin

• Teach others to love, and then live what you've taught.
• Don't think of your task as a burden, think of it as an opportunity to learn what love really is.
• Be someone who reaches out to serve others. Throw away the mirrors and look through the window.
• Don't worry just about yourself and your life. Look through the windows, not at yourself in the mirror.
• Look for others known and unknown who could use our love and support.
• Showing love and service doesn't have to be a grandiose gesture to be meaningful.
• Who's on your Love Necklace?
• Remember in your routine and mundane tasks, that you are often in the service of your God.
• Who is in your circle of influence? How can you help them out today?

Sister Neill F. Marriott

• The Lord has laid high responsibilities upon us.
• The Lord's Church needs Spirit Directed Women. To Nurture, Speak Up, Defend Gospel Truth.
• We build the kingdom when we nurture others. But the first child we must nurture is ourselves.
• Find a spiritually safe place to anchor yourself.
• To 'Mother' means to give life.
• The more we Follow Christ. The more we will fill his Love and Direction.
• Nurture your children in such a way that they will make the world a better place.
• What does the Savior do? He nurtures, creates, encourages growth. We too can do these things.
• All of us need a spiritual and physical place of belonging.
• Live Truth Fearlessly.

Sister Linda K. Burton

• Go and bring in the people now on the plains. Otherwise your faith will be in vain.
• What comes next for willing hands to do?
• What if their story was my story?
• I Was A Stranger. Determine what you can do according to your time & circumstances to help the refugees. Serve one on one.
• The Holy Ghost is sent to you and to those you care for. The Spirit will comfort you when you wonder "Did I do enough?"

President Henry B. Eyring

• Because I have been given much, I too must give.
• Forgiveness isn't accomplished in a single moment.
• Love is the Feeling of Greatest Importance.
• You can receive the feeling of love often if you seek it. \
• Put your trust in the Spirit that leadeth you to do Good.
• The Lord will put Helpers by your side. All around you. You do not go alone to serve others for Him.
• Do all you can for those you are asked to serve.

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Don't Let It End

It feels like a rare occurrence now, for me to have a truly good day.

That sort of good day where things just keep getting better and better and you just keep getting happier and happier with every passing moment.

Not to say that there weren't some unhappy things that happened today.

But those unhappy moments.

Were like a blip on the path upwards to true enjoyment.

It's one of those days that I never wanted to end because it went all so well. :)

I was able to have a couple of hours to myself in the apartment, which is rather rare, so to wake up to an empty apartment was great. ^^ I hardly wanted to leave because I wanted to luxuriate in the emptiness for as long as possible.

But I had plans to drop by and visit an old coworker of mine at her job -she transferred to a different store.

Which involved me going to our sister store in the valley for the first time. lol. Totally a different place. It felt so familiar but different at the same time as everything is mirrored in that store....and it's like half the size of my store.

I was able to then go to the Gem Faire happening in the next valley over. ^^ Which you can never not have fun at! lol. I mean, it's sparkly things and rocks galore! Definitely left with heavier pockets (of rocks.) and a lot lighter in funds. ^^ Plus!! I didn't end up with a headache, which is what normally happens after I visit such an energy filled place.

And it was there, that I met up with my parents, and later met up with them back at their house, where Daddoo diagnosed that my swollen lymphnodes (that have been swollen since like December) are improving! Yay! The visit involved 'popping' the largest lymphnode to get the swelling and infection/pus out to help it heal. So that was less than fun. As fun as being poked by a hot poker fun. But it means that there's progress!!

And to top off the night?

Vocal Point was having a concert in my hometown tonight!

And since I was in my hometown.

I got to go with my family and friends!!

Ah.

AH!

AHHHH!!!

You can never not leave a Vocal Point concert without feeling like you're going to smile your face off. The guys have so much energy and love of singing that it's contagious! Love it! The concert was just as great as the others! I even got to sit a bit closer than my normal sitting arrangement, so the guys faces were really clear. lol. So much more expression happens on their faces than if you were trying to see them from the back of the room.

So, all in all, it was a great day! ^^ I got to see family, friends, Vocal Point, get myself some new rocks to have about.

It was a great day. ^^ Don't want it to end. Totally don't want it to end. :)

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

To Laugh With

I remember when one of our daughters went on a blind date.
She was all dressed up and waiting for her date to arrive when the doorbell rang.
In walked a man who seemed a little old, but she tried to be polite.
She introduced him to me and my wife and the other children; then she put on her coat and went out the door.
We watched as she got into the car, but the car didn't move.
Eventually our daughter got out of the car and, red faced, ran back into the house.
The man that she thought was her blind date had actually come to pick up another of our daughters who had agreed to be a babysitter for him and his wife.

We all had a good laugh over that.
In fact, we couldn't stop laughing.
Later, when our daughter's real blind date showed up, I couldn't come out to meet him because I was still in the kitchen laughing.
Now, I realize that our daughter could have felt humiliated and embarrassed.
But she laughed with us, and as a result, we still laugh about it today.

-Joseph B. Wirthlin -Come What May, and Love it. -October 2008 General Conference

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

I Know Him

I know him.
I know him.
I know him.

That's what I thought when I read the name.
Elder Norby.
One of the missionaries that was hit by the bomb in Brussels.

But no.
It couldn't be.
Why would he be over there?

Was it who I thought it was?
No, the Norby I know is an older fellow.

But checking the news.
It was confirmed.
Elder Norby.
I know him.

It's so weird.
I've never known anyone who's been part of a terrorist attack before.
I've known people who've known people.
But I've never known anyone....

But Elder Norby.
I know him.
He was the Director of the Orem Institute of Religion when I was on the LDSSA council there. I met him on occasion. Talked with him a bit. Shook his hand.

And now....years later, he's halfway around the world.
In a medically induced coma. Recovering from burns and shrapnel from the bomb.

It's weird.
So weird.

I read about this all the time....my heart breaks every time I hear about more violence, more terror, more deaths, more injuries.

Now though....I actually know one of the people.

So. Very. Weird.

I hope that everyone who survived the attack recovers. For some it will be a longer process than others, but in the end. I hope everyone recovers. Are able to move on. To make something out of their lives. And prove that in the end, the bad guys can't keep good people down.

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Having a Voice

Okay, So I've gone voting a couple of times before. You know....to vote for the new President of the United States.

But I've never been to a caucus before.
I remember that I've attempted to go to one before.
When I was on Institute Council and on Spring Break with the group.

We had no idea what the caucus was then. We figured it was a meeting and such, talking about the different candidates and environmental issues and new laws and such.

Unfortunately, we got the times mixed up back then.
And showed up too late.
It was closed.
Everyone was gone.
Oops.

Though, I suppose we would have been useless back then because we weren't from that city, so couldn't vote or anything.

Today though,
Even through a headache and not feeling well.
I decided....why not?
Why not go?
Why not go and vote for who I want to be the candidate for the presidential election?

Granted. I had no idea what I was doing.
Was it a meeting? A vote? A what? I mean, I just go stand in line and vote right? Should be done in half an hour.

Honestly....
I hadn't even followed the politics. What I know about the candidates is what I see on my Facebook newsfeed. (before I hide them from my view as I'm tired of all the bickering childlike behavior)
Soo most of what I've heard are negatives things about the candidates.

So why vote? Why go vote for someone when I don't know who they are? What they stand for? What things they're trying to change if they become President?

Really....
It's because of a phone call.
Or multiple phone calls.
As this random number kept calling me. (and I didn't pick up. because it's a random number.)
But finally I just got sick of it. (Since they've called me like 6 times in the last two days.)
And answered.

It was one of those people that call asking if you're going to vote. And give you some quick reasons as to why you should vote for a particular candidate.
I'd already gotten one of these calls before, for the same candidate....though this time it was a real person on the other end instead of a voice robot.

I told them I wasn't planning to vote.
And when I hung up....
I changed my mind.
(I can be prone to that on occasion.)

And decided to go vote.
For this candidate.
Why? Because one, they reached out to me via phone, two I liked what I heard, and three, their name hasn't been in the newsfeed as much in the negative light. Which means....they must have some good things to say.

So I looked up where to go.
Debating all the while if I actually wanted to go because I had a major headache going, and standing in a crowded area where tensions are high isn't the best idea when you have an aching head.
Found the location.
Waited til after the start time to go head that way....

O.o
And encountered a lot of traffic.
I mean a lot.
Turn down the street to the voting location....to be met right away with bumper to bumper cars as we slowly made our way down the road....with cars lining the streets on either side.
It was crazy!
Like literally people had parked 6 blocks away all around the location in order to vote. O.o

I had been expecting to pull into the parking lot, walk in, and two minutes later walk out. Maybe up to a half hour if there was a long line.

But I ended up parking like 4 blocks away.
And standing outside in line for 2 hours. In the freezing cold.
And that line? Wrapped around the block. It was Loooonngggg.

At first it moved steadily enough, that I was confident it wouldn't take longer than an hour to get inside to this 'caucus.'

Then.
They ran out of ballots.

Yes. you read that right.
They ran out of ballots.
So we stood unmoving in line for like 20 minutes.
Because they either needed to print off more, or send out for more.

lol. Which shows how underprepared our system was, to support all the voters.

Apparently this time around we came out of the woodwork. As all over the state I've seen reports of long lines, long waits, the voting locations being overwhelmed with people, running out of ballots.

Apparently, this time around, my state feels like they have something to say.

So I stood for two hours in a line (it almost felt like comiccon, just no people in costume. lol)
In the cold.
As it got darker.
And cloudier.

And finally.
I got inside.
Filled out the ballot thing.
Cast my vote.

And finally was free from the mayhem!

lol I'm still recovering from being in the cold that long.
I mean, I love the cold. Love it.
But with a headache I become more sensitive to things. Noise, light, temperature.
So I while I was fine to be out in the cold.
The after effects have left me shivering in my warm apartment. lol. Lucky me I have heat packs!!

In any case.
It was an interesting experience. I got to see and talk to a bunch of different people.
And cast my vote. Which I suppose is the most important thing.
I guess we'll find out when everything is said and done if my vote made a difference for the candidate I chose. :)

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2009 General Conference -Saturday Afternoon

Dieter F. Uchtdorf -The Sustaining of Church Officers

Robert W. Cantwell -Church Auditing Department Report, 2008

Brook P. Hales -Statistical Report, 2008

• Total Church Membership -13,508,509
• Full-Time Missionaries -52,494

M. Russell Ballard -Learning the Lessons of the Past

• When you are willing to listen and learn, some of life's most meaningful teachings come from those who have gone before you.
• There are times when we have no choice but to venture out on our own and do the best we can at figuring things out as we go along.
• "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
• There are great lessons to be learned from the past, and you ought to learn them so that you don't exhaust your spiritual strength repeating past mistakes and bad choices.
• Spiritual light is not lost because God turns His back on His children. Rather, spiritual darkness results when His children turn their collective backs on Him.
• You cannot do a Google search to gain a testimony. You can't text message faith. You gain a vibrant, life-changing testimony today the same way it has always been done. The process hasn't been changed. It comes through desire, study, prayer, obedience, and service. That is why the teachings of prophets and apostles, past and present, are as relevant to your life today as they ever have been.

Quentin L. Cook -Our Father's Plan--Big Enough for All His Children

• Our leaders have consistently counseled us "to live with respect and appreciation for those not of our faith. There is so great a need for civility and mutual respect among those of differing beliefs and philosophies."

Kevin W. Pearson -Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

• Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness.
• If we desire more faith, we must be more obedient.
• Hope develops as particles of faith become molecules and as simple efforts to live true principles occur.
• Faith and fear cannot coexist.
• Consider it this way: our net usable faith is what we have left to exercise after we subtract our sources of doubt and disbelief. You might ask yourself this question: "Is my own net faith positive or negative?" If your faith exceeds your doubt and disbelief, the answer is likely positive. If you allow doubt and disbelief to control you, the answer might be negative.
• First is doubt. Doubt leads to discouragement. Discouragement leads to distraction. Distraction leads to a lack of diligence. If not reversed, this path ultimately leads to disobedience.

Rafael E. Pino -Faith in Adversity

• The important thing is not how a man died but how he lived.
• "If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right."
• Living the gospel does not mean that we will everlastingly escape adversity. Rather, it means that we will be prepared to face and endure adversity more confidently.

Richard G. Scott -Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need

• That trial has not been a problem for either of us because, when we live righteously and have received the ordinances of the temple, everything else is in the hands of the Lord. We can do the best we can, but the final outcome is up to Him. We should never complain, when we are living worthily, about what happens in our lives.

Russell M. Nelson -Lessons from the Lord's Prayers

• If one is to be forgiven, one must first forgive.
• Adding amen solemnly affirms a sermon or a prayer. Those who concur should each add an audible amen to signify "that is my solemn declaration too."
• "the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."
• "There is such a thing as overdoing. A man may fast and pray till he kills himself; and there isn't any necessity for it; nor wisdom in it. ... The Lord can hear a simple prayer, offered in faith, in half a dozen words, and he will recognize fasting that may not continue more than twenty-four hours, just as readily and as effectually as He will answer a prayer of a thousand words and fasting for a month. ... The Lord will accept that which is enough, with a good deal more pleasure and satisfaction than that which is too much and unnecessary."
• The concept of "too much and unnecessary" could also apply to the length of our prayers. A closing prayer in a Church meeting need not include a summary of each message and should not become an unscheduled sermon. Private prayers can be as long as we want, but public prayers ought to be short supplications for the Spirit of the Lord to be with us or brief declarations of gratitude for what has transpired.
• When should we pray? Whenever we desire!

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Must. See. Arches. Now.

It's that time of year again.
Where my obsession with red rocks reawakens.

Unfortunately for me, I don't get to visit my beloved Arches National Park for a couple more months...

But that doesn't stop me from starting my planning.
You know.
To find new arches that I haven't yet explored.
Within the park and possibly outside of the park as well. lol.

Which means scouring through the internet to find those hidden gems that past off-trailers have discovered and written about.

And in the midst of my scouring.
I came across a blog about one of the arches I've been dying to visit for like...the past three years.
Okay. More like two maybe?
But ever since I got super super obsessed with seeing new arches that I hadn't seen before.

In any case.
In this blog I discovered horrible news!!
Sometime between 2014-2015...
Part of this Arch. Known as Ring Arch.

Collapsed!! :S Ah!!!
Not all of it thankfully!
But it is not comforting at all to know that a portion of it did collapse.
Leaving the arch more frail and possibly more prone to further collapse!! :S
In the blog it states that there wasn't any sign of cracks or reason for the arch to collapse before it lost a good portion of it's span. And while there aren't any further signs of more cracks....

It's got me worried.
What if this arch collapses before we get to it?
What if it's already collapsed?!
Oh yah. Totally worried as I've been wanting to see this arch, and have been trying to see this arch the last couple of times we went down to the Park.

So now, it's our number one priority. Go find this arch and See it. Before it disappears forever!!

(The picture below shows the after picture first, of the now thinner arch. Then below that is the before picture of the arch, where it was thicker.)


-More information and pictures of Ring Arch before/after collapse can be found here:

http://www.naturalarches.org/blog/partial-collapse-of-ring-arch-in-arches-national-park/

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Cheeseburger for You!

A while ago at work, We started selling bigger fish tanks.
Namely a 125 gallon one, as well as a 150 gallon one.

Which due to their size, usually means that you need more than two people to help you move them. Because their bigger and unwieldy.
Okay, the 125 you could possibly still get away with just using two strong guys to move it.

But the 150? Ha.
No. What you need is 4 strong guys to move that heavy thing because it must weigh like 500lbs.

Which usually isn't a problem, because we tend to have the guys on hand to be able to move the tank. Especially on a Saturday, when we're at our busiest.

Except. This week..
Because we're doing inventory on Monday, most of the week, the guys have been coming in for overnighter shifts. Where the stockers/managers can do precounting stuff and facing/organizing so that when we have the actual inventory on Monday, the official count of all our products can be done easy peasy with hopefully no hold ups.

In any case.
This morning.
I saw a couple looking at the tanks. And asked if I could help them with anything.
They said yes.
They wanted the 150 gallon tank.

The problem?
We only had one guy manager in the store.
Everyone else, yah, girls. Which it would probably take all of us girls plus him to try and lift that tank and have us not drop it if we were lucky.
Which we weren't.
lol. No we didn't break the tank.
It was unfortunate that they decided to get this tank...in the middle of one of our rushes.
So that basically everyone else was busy helping customers.

Thankfully the husband was willing to help carry the tank.
But that still left two empty places that us girls couldn't fill because we had other customers anxious for help. (Why are people less patient on Saturdays? I mean, yes, you have errands to run, but seriously, can't you see we're all busy helping people?)

Which left us with two options.
Try and find some willing male customers to help us out.
Or go over to the vet within our store and ask them for help.
I chose to go for the latter option first, leaving the customer assistance as a last resort.

Lucky, us. I found two guys willing to help us out over there. ^^ Woot!
Dodged a bullet there.

lol.
And the entire time they were joking. "So we get a free tank out of this right?" "You're going to have that pizza sent over before we leave right?"

Honestly, they weren't serious at all.

But for fun.
I decided to take them seriously.
And just do a random act of kindness.

So once my shift was over.
I headed up to my favorite fast food place, Wendy's.
And grabbed 10 Jr. Cheeseburgers from their 99cent menu. (and my favorite crispy chicken sandwich for myself.)
And bring them back to the vet clinic. :)

I couldn't remember how many people were working there. Around 6 or 7. So I grabbed a few extra just in case.
lol.
I loved seeing their faces. Excitement. Joy. Happiness. When I told them I'd grabbed them some cheeseburgers as a thank you for helping us move the 150 gallon.

I mean, only two of the guys there helped. But I figured I would give everyone there a treat just to give them a bright spot to a busy day. :)

Lol. Now they're saying that they need to do a random act of kindness back to us at some point. Randomly give us food. Lol. We'll see if it happens. ^^

But I'm glad that they were happy to get the food. :) It made my day that much brighter too by doing that for them. :)

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Fries to Eat

I dropped by my favorite fast food place today before heading home for the night.
That fast food place?
Wendy's. :)

I'm totally obsessed with their Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
It's not an exaggeration that I end up getting it at least three times a week. lol.
That's how much I love the taste of it!
I can't resist stopping by and getting it. :)
lol It also helps a lot that my sandwich is only 99 cents. ^^ So it's not like I'm paying a pretty penny to buy it.

Well.
Usually I get fries with my sandwich. Sometimes a drink.
But today.
I randomly decided to just get the sandwich and a drink. No fries.

After I'd finished eating -as I hung out at Wendy's to eat instead of heading home to eat there.- and headed home to hang out.

One of my roommates came home like half an hour after I had.
And?
Brought me fries!! lol. From Wendy's! lol.

So crazy!!

What are the odds that I'd not get fries at Wendy's and she would randomly decide to get me fries from Wendy's?

It was an awesome moment.
^^

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Hold To Your Word

President N. Eldon Tanner, a former counselor in the First Presidency and a man of integrity, told of someone who sought his advice.

"A young man came to me not long ago and said, 'I made an agreement with a man that requires me to make certain payments each year.
I am in arrears, and I can't make those payments, for if I do, it is going to cause me to lose my home.
What shall I do?"

"I looked at him and said, "Keep your agreement.'

"'Even if it costs me my home?'

"I said, 'I am not talking about your home.
I am talking about your agreement; and I think your wife would rather have a husband who would keep his word, meet his obligations, ... and have to rent a home than to have a home with a husband who will not keep his covenants and his pledges.'"

-D. Todd Christofferson -Let Us Be Men -October 2006 General Conference

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Tick Tick Bye

I had to do it.
I couldn't take it any more.
It was driving me insane.

I went and bought a new watch.

Yah.
I know.
I just bought a new watch like...what three weeks ago maybe?
Totally recent.

But you see....
I couldn't stand it anymore!!

What was wrong with my watch?
It ticks.
Way.
Too.
Loud!

Honestly.
You can hear it ticking from like three feet away!
From a wristwatch!
(Of course I may be just super sensitive to noise...but still!)

I know wrist watches can have their moments.
Where the position on the wrist, and the position of wrist to ear can affect how loudly it ticks.
As with other watches, I could sometimes hear it ticking, but a quick adjustment of the watch would silence it and I could move on.

And I believed, that the loud ticking of my new watch would eventually quiet.

But no.
It got louder if nothing else. (okay it's the same but it became waaaay too constant.)

And finally, I got to a point where I couldn't take it anymore.
I prefer my watches to tick quietly thank you very much.

So I drove to the store and went and bought myself another new watch.
With a smaller face. Which equals smaller hands. Which should equal smaller ticks.

And so far I'm right! :)
It's acting like a normal watch.
Where occasionally things will misalign and I'll hear the ticking, but a quick adjustment fixes it.
And it's like one or two adjustments in a day.
Instead of like the thirty or forty I was doing before with the other watch.
-It would tick so loudly I'd literally take it off and throw it across the room to get away from the ticking.

My new watch?
Very well behaved. ^^
Loving it! :)

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

ReUnited and It Feels So Good!

It was a long five days.

Without my ring.

The one that my Daddoo gave me.

The one that I've worn almost everyday for years.

The one that broke,

Because after three years of being worn constantly and getting placed into fish tanks almost every day.

The water/hot/cold/wear/tear ended up embrittling the silver.

So it snapped.

Into two pieces.

:( Nooooo!!!

Making it unwearable!

NOOOOOO!!!!!!

But all was not lost. I was able to take it to the Jewelry Doctor.

And he could fix it!

......Only he wouldn't be able to get to it until yesterday. :(

Boo.

I was hoping like last time, when I brought in my favorite necklace, he'd be able to fix it then and there.

Not the case with my ring. 

So I had to wait.

And wait.

And wait.

And wait.

But finally!

Reunited!!

My ring and I.

It's so good to have it back where it belongs. ^^

I admit...

There is one aspect I miss to it.

Before it was fixed,

There was this little notch in the band of the ring.

That I used to make sure I put the ring on in the right direction.

-Because I'm weird like that, and rings have specific sides that they're worn in.

It was something unique about an already unique ring.

But also my ring's downfall.

As the notch made the band weaker.

And after like a year or so of working with animals.

That area with the notch snapped.

Leaving a small fissure.

Which would move incrementally. Almost unnoticeably.

But that slightest movement.

Put strain on the other side of the band.

And the repeated slight movements

strained it too much.

And a one time snag on some clothing.

Jerked it upwards.

I thought it would just bend back into place.

It did...

But it was sooo....brittle.

That it broke cleanly into two pieces just like two days later. :(

All because the unique little notch in the ring....made it weaker.

:(

So that notch is now gone.

The ring.

Stronger than ever. :D

With a solid even band all the way around. :)

Luckily there are other little details to my ring that still enable me to be able to wear it the 'right way'

;)

Otherwise I think I would go crazy trying to figure out which way my ring should go. :)

Mostly though.

I'm just glad that it still fits like a glove. ^^

...even without the notch. lol Which will still bug me for a while longer, not feeling that difference on my finger.

Still.

It's good to have my ring back. ^^

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2009 General Conference -Saturday Morning

Thomas S. Monson -Welcome to Conference

Robert D. Hales -Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually

• Each temptation we overcome is to strengthen us, not destroy us. The Lord will never allow us to suffer beyond what we can endure.
• We must remember that the adversary knows us extremely well. He knows where, when and how to tempt us. If we are obedient to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, we can learn to recognize the adversary's enticements. Before we yield to temptation, we must learn to say with unflinching resolve, "Get thee behind me, Satan."
• Our success is never measured by how strongly we are tempted but by how faithfully we respond.
• These two lessons are the essence of provident living. When faced with the choice to buy, consume, or engage in worldly things and activities, we all need to learn to say to one another, "We can't afford it, even though we want it!" or "We can afford it, but we don't need it--and we really don't even want it!"

Margaret S. Lifferth -Respect and Reverence

• May I suggest that our ability and our credibility to exemplify reverence for God is strengthened as we show respect for each other. In today's society, the standards of decorum, dignity, and courtesy are assailed on every side and in every form of media. As parents and leaders, our examples of respect for each other are critical for our youth and children because they are watching not only the media--they are watching us! Are we the examples we need to be?
• If reverence is rooted in love, so is the teaching of it. Harshness in our training begets resentment, not reverence. So begin early and have reasonable expectations. A toddler canlearn to fold his arms and get ready for prayer. But it takes time, patience, and consistency. Remember that we are not only teaching a child his first lessons in reverence, but the child may be mastering his first attempts at self-discipline.
• Often the child who is the most disruptive needs your love the most.

Michael A. Neider -Revealed Quorum Principles

• My young brethren and sisters, you are powerful tools in the Savior's hands, and He can use  you to bring the blessings of the gospel to others.

Allan F. Packer -Finding Strength in Challenging Times!

• We must know--and know that we know. We must stand spiritually and temporally independent of all worldly creatures.
• We need to be acquainted with the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and we need to practice and apply gospel teachings until they become natural and automatic. These promptings become the foundation of our testimonies. Then our testimonies will keep us happy and safe in troubled times.
• "A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus."
• While testimonies can come as dramatic manifestations, they usually do not. Sometimes people think they need to have an experience like Joseph Smith's vision before they gain testimonies. If we have unrealistic expectations of how, when or where answers come, we risk missing the answers which come as quiet, reassuring feelings and thoughts that most often come after our prayers, while we are doing something else. These answers can be equally convincing and powerful.
• In time, a personal witness will come and we will know--and know that we know. We will then independent of all other worldly things, for "by the power of the Holy Ghost [we] may know the truth of all things" which are right and expedient for us. We will receive strength, comfort, and help to make good decisions and act with confidence in troubled times.

D. Todd Christofferson -The Power of Covenants

• Keeping covenants with God that gives us the power to smile through hardships, to convert tribulation into triumph, to "be anxiously engaged in a good cause, ... and bring to pass much righteousness."

Henry B. Eyring -Adversity

• Even when you feel the truth of that capacity and kindness of the Lord to deliver you in your trials, it may still test your courage and strength to endure.
• "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;"
• "And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."
• "Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands."

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Hello Isolation

I woke up by myself this morning.
In my apartment.
Which is a big deal.

Because like I've stated before.
I never get more than like 10 minutes, it feels like, with the apartment totally empty.
But today.
I got hours upon hours of empty apartment!!
It was glorious, let me tell you. ^^

As two of my roommates had disappeared homeward for the weekend,
And the last one had a morning shift.

So she didn't get home until nearly dinner time.
And the other roommates won't be back until tomorrow.

Which meant that I could basically do whatever I wanted without worrying about how it would effect my other roommates.
Play music as loud as I want.
Cook whatever I want.
Sleep wherever I want.
Watch whatever movie I wanted.

It was great!! :D

Totally a nice little thing for me.
As I'm planning for the roommates to be home all the time this upcoming week.
Why?
Spring break is upon them.
So no school for them. yay.
But that means, they're going to be in the apartment a lot more.
Sooo.
I may just have to find reasons to be in the apartment less.
So I can still find my much needed 'alone' time without going crazy. :)

We'll see how it goes.
But at least I got a few hours of by myselfness today. ^^

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi